Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-09-08
HELEN

A century ago thelo hNVu VA
An town of Edinburgh, Helen
immature portrait painter,
not unappreciated by the public
- the neighbors knew anything
about her except that she was an
uoman. One woman, good
h old lady, with weakness, per
f3r gossip. and whose windows
;oto Miss Marsden's, was deter =
10 get acquainted with her.
in vain that Miss Marsden,
INC and timid as a sensitive plant,
9itbdraw from this homely hos
Mrs. Saunders was woman
rad TO manage others and have
wsv. and she would not be de-
Miss Marsden must go over and
The evening with her; and Miss
n al last, with a deep drawn sigh
gDation, put aside her palette and
smoothed her back curls, took
loose linen wrapper that she wore
vork and went over to Mrs. Saun-
the plain worn black dress in
he constantly appeared.
the first evening, with its half
nj. restraint, was over, and the ice
h,oken, Miss Marsden often found
to the same friendly drawing
md drank tea, did her best to REX
b1ttered toast and the little piles
a and grew really to like the old
kbrswd and sensible talk, which was
p,osy, and sometimes full of inter
pecially when it diverged, as it
Eid. to her own experiences, to the
and customs of her youth, and to
which took place when her pensive
vss only a baby in arms.
Saunders' history was common
tne, full of simple pleasures, sim
bis and safe and guarded pros
The cup was full, but it did not
w; nor did the widow wish that
bld. She liked to talk, and, with
hfulity of old age, she soon made
snt companion mistress of all her
In the course of one or two even
een Marsden knew how and where
en- the late lamented Mr.. Saunders
Id, of the will he had made, the
y he had left, and the amount of
which Janet, the widows only
bad brought to her lord and master
sperous merchant in Calcutta.
hme detailed and minute account
tis rousseau; and then, parenthe-
hs widow remarked there was
Elg very romantic in her daugh-
engagement and marriage. Her
Fas much older than she was, and
staid reserved man, too. lie fell
With Janet, a laughing school
b for herelf, it almost seemed
eeause he faucied she was like some
pom he had once known long be-
some one whom no had loved and
ID whom he fancied he saw resus-
in the smiling Edinburgh school
Eoall net have had such poor,
rate love if it had been me-" said
aandeTs, almost GROSSLY.
was searching for something in
eEs ahd corners of a large work
and when she found it she put it
before her visitor with an abrupt
at startled her.
sfe-that is Janetn she said.
Is zoe portrait of pale, dark eyed
~ giA-much such girl as Miss
en- herself might once have been
when her pale cheeks had more
daess and softness in their out
lsA her grave mouth, SO straight
apouiing smile of its own, and
eyes were merry and bright.
8hat do YOU think of her?n ask
Saunders.
a slight expression of interest.
'aih'est possible tinge of color in
z cheeks, she took up the minia-
lln and looked at it.
.lA' she said, that it is like my
.s only far, far prettier.n
declared the old lady emphati-
,1a' 1t Is not; although Janet
we'll IN her way. And now, as
e.ea are getting dim, will you
Isi 'ast letter my dear?"
N"i,den complied She had felt
y-S letters which had to be read
'51 so often quite an infiction at
:. men she lad come to take a
interest in them, and in the
s..L On The banks of the Hooghly,
-o-l oer kith and kin, and pining
t-'lous home, longing to win for
,-s l's' place in a preoccupied
Apply but very brave and I'M
s, never murmuring at the
-''' she had rashly taken upon
o- striving to bear it meeklv.
'''' 10 prevent il from over
ana crushing her mother.
Iva Janet, whose silks and sat.
7 anu Jewels, had at first
-'4'emptible in Helen Mars
T-en placed by the side of her
...-, nara working life, was. after
~ stit-sacrldcing woman
"al been herself -subduinp
-l15f smile her disappoint,
~ -'.h lest they ,should main
''Hi1i heart Of the old mother
cave longer letter by the
.n sure Miss Marsden Mad
@i'' Saunders, whether she
af,...5 ~ '1e expectation or not.
Dy the words, end took a
''-A. are' in the hushed twi-
zgs-.,. ing evenings, in telling
,.asrt@ 81 lhe sorrowful tales NE
r.-s4 eagerly expected mail ar.
,s m9arnfpl news for the
taa3 Janet was dead. and
sor. y Charge OF an ayab. g Tas
orrg, II aer mother, to Le cared
aIa tenderly as Janet bad
Zen. u nsF armchair, Mira. saun.
s..ss. .,'y 70 herself, but with no
na sped on. tb,o,h